|| THE AUTUMN I FELL FOR YOU || 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘥. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘪𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘺, 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘦𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨… Part 6 / Page 1 : A Promise Made in Passing Navami arrived with the quiet ache of a beautiful thing nearing its end. By evening, Arohi's home was filled with familiar voices, laughter, and the soft clatter of teacups. Mili had insisted they spend some time together before heading out for their late-night pandal-hopping adventure. Ammu, meanwhile, had appointed herself the official guardian of the gathering, wandering between everyone with her tail wagging enthusiastically. Arohi sat on the floor beside her, scratching behind her ears. “She's been waiting for you all afternoon,” her mother remarked fondly, placing a plate of snacks on the table. “Though I suspect she's more interested in your share of the food.” “Ma, she's a growing girl,” Arohi protested. “Of course. And you're apparently the only person in this house who believes that.” Mili burst out laughing. Arohi was still defending Ammu when the doorbell rang. “I'll get it!” Mili announced a little too quickly. Arohi frowned. “Why are you behaving suspiciously?” “I'm always like this.” “Exactly my point.” Before Mili could reply, she returned with two familiar faces. Sagnik walked in first, wearing his usual easy grin. And behind him— Arko. In his signature black shirt, sleeves casually rolled to his forearms, he looked as though he'd stepped into the evening without the slightest idea that his arrival might change it. Arohi stared. “Mili!” “What?” Mili asked innocently. “I thought you'd enjoy the company.” “You could have told me!” “And miss that expression? Never.” Arko laughed softly. “For what it's worth, I didn't know this was supposed to be a surprise either.” “Then why are you smiling?” “Because it's working beautifully.” Arohi rolled her eyes, but the smile threatening the corners of her mouth betrayed her. Within minutes, Arko had somehow made himself at home. He greeted Arohi's mother with an easy warmth, accepted a cup of tea, and listened attentively when she asked how he knew Mili. He even remembered to thank her when she offered him more snacks. Ammu, apparently convinced that he was an old friend, settled beside his feet. Arko crouched to pet her. “Well, hello there. Have you been keeping everyone out of trouble?” Ammu answered by placing one paw on his knee. “She's chosen you,” Arohi observed. “Excellent judgement runs in the family.” “Don't flatter yourself. She likes everyone who gives her attention.” “Then I'll have to earn a more exclusive position.” Arohi shook her head, laughing. Her mother watched them for a moment, an almost imperceptible smile touching her face, before returning to the kitchen. Nobody said anything about the ease between them. Perhaps that was what made it feel so natural. — #Anamika to be continued…